Automatic transporting device.



PATBNTED SEPT. 18, 1906,

W. C. CARR. AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

m. mwmmwakw@ m BATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906. W. C. GARR.

AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. C. CARR. AUTOMATIC 'IRAN-SPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 5, 1906.

PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

W. C. CARR. AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING DEV ICB.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 5, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED srArns PATENT OFFICE.

` wrLLrAM o. CARR, or BUEFALO, .NEW YORK.

'.AuTpMA-rlc TnANsPom-ING DEvloE.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Carin, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Buf-` falo,'in the county of Erie and State of New York,have invented a certain' new and useful Improvement in AutomaticTransporting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved auro tomatictransportjng system;and the objecty y of the 4invention is to provide means for economicallydeliverin and collecting packages, mails, or other artic es to and froma series of stations. r The invention also relates to certain details ofconstruction, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafterdescribed and claimed `reference being had to the accompanying ldrawings, in whichfi zo Figure 1 is a side elevation oftheimprovedautomatic. transporting device. with a fragment .ofthe rail fromwhich 'it lis suspended.

- Fig. 2 is a top p'lari view of the improved automatic trans 'ortingdevice. Fig. 3 is a side z5 eleyation of t e improved automatictransporting device, showing the car just entering a station. Fig. 4 isan end elevation of one of the stations. Fig. 5 is an end elevation oftheinproved automatic transporting device,

3o showing a-section through the rails. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary viewshowing the manner of supporting the box or package from the car,showing a` section through the frame of the car. 7 is a fragmentary viewof one 'of 3 5 the boxes, showing a section through the rollers. Fig. 8vis an enlarged fragmentary sidel view of portion of one of the rails,showing the manner of changing the speed of the car. Fig.- Qis anenlarged fragmentary sec- 4o tion through one of the wheelsand the ameon line a a, Fig. 1 Fig.l 10 is anenlarged transverse section throughone of the main j rails. j Fig. 11 .is an enlarged transverse sectionthrough one of the 'rails at -a station.

45 Figs. 12, 13, and l14: are enlargedfragmentary e views of the c'aranda station, showing s1 the operation of the car 'as it picks upa box,Fig. 15 is an enlarged fra entary sideview of thecar and a station, sowing the manner '5o of delivering/ai box. Fi 16 an enlarge fragmentaryside view o a station.'` '.Fig. 17 is a plan view of the portion-ofthestation shown in Fig. 16.

illustrated' in the drawings,

-manner, and are provided with means for 'automatically' reducing thespeed of a car stations and support theear in the manner The bottomsurfaces 4 of the rai out to form a channel in whichthe trolley- Vtion 5anda lower portion 6,. separated suiii- Fig. 18 an enlarged de, 11.

tached view of the lock forlocking the box in place at a station. Fig.19 is an enlarged 55 section on line b b, Fig. 12. Fig20 is an en*`larged fragmentary side elevation of the efront end of the car, showingthe manner of 'shifting the remaining boxes after one has beendelivered. Fig. 21 is an enlarged side 6o view of the trolley'device anda fragment of .the car-frame, also showing a section through vthe rail.-Fig. 22 is a section on linee c, Fig.

21. Fig. 23 is a side view of one ofthe hori- `zontalily-slotted bars,carrying 4the-dog for 65 shifting the boxes on the car. Fig. 24 is anenlarged section on line d d, Fig. 20. Fig. 25

lis an enlarged section on line e e, Fig. 20.

the invention the delivering and collecting car issupportedupon\elevated rails,'which also serve to conduct electricity to themotors operating the car. The rails are supported arallel and at asuitable dise/ tance above t e ground by supports, and stations toand-from whichde iveries and In the preferred type of collections aremade are located at suitable points. The car is suspended from the railsandhas twoparallel side members and means,l fbor supporting boxesbetween the side memers. The miZs.-.The rails 1 are supported above theground'lby standards 2, being in-` sulated from the standards in theusualbefore enteringa station. This means consists vof raisedV flanges 3on the rails;I which extend for suitable distances on each side bf .90to be hereinafter specifically described s are grooved wheel runs.

l The car.-The oar' consists of two parallel side members, and as' bothsides vof the car are slmilar in construction a description of ;one sidewill'sufiice for both. Each of the side members iscomposed of an upperporroc ciently to leave a slot 7, in' which rollers 8, i

rotatably mounted on short rods 9, extendf d. ing from oppositesidesofboxes 10, travel.

vThe upper and lower portionsI 5 and 6 are' rigidly connected togetherby metall straps l The lower portion 6 is shaped somewhat. 1.

insulated therefrom.

I .with trolley-wheels.

like the runner of askate, having atapering v'and curvedforward-"end"12, the purpose of which will be explained farther on.

Two rotary electricmotors .-13 are-.prefer--I ably employed, whch'i-earranged tandem and are mounted direc ly upon the Tfrontf. nd.L:'th'ecaris suspen ed rear axles 14.,- from w by metal straps 11an'd"15...g Theelectriccurrent for dnvmg-hemotfs13is Conducted from therails by trolley-wheels .'16, which..

travel in the grooves 4 and aret journaled-i-n the upper ends 'of 'thetrolley-warms 417- These .arms are pivoted atth'eirlowen ends to..'metalplat'es 1,8,.wli'ehare holtedto the up# p er portionsuv of the.side -me1nbe'rs,,bul;'areA (SeeFigs. 21 and.l.22.) TheV two motors areconnected .by eondubt ing-wires 19, so that but one need. be'sugpplied`The front and rear ofthe slot 7 are lnormally closedy when the car is.traveling and are yautomatically opened'at a station -to permit thepicking up of a box at the frontV and the dropping-,of a bex from the..rear end. The automatic -rnechanisin for f freeing the slot-passage topermit thereception and removal of boxes is .partiallymountv l ed on thecar and partially mounted on the station.

. ards 2 and consists ofv two vertical .parallel Thestations Iareconstructed as shown'in Figs. 3,v 4, and 12 to 19, inclusive.` Eachstation is supported from one of thestandbars 20, which are supported bya horizontal bar 21, secured to the standard 2, andmeehfan'ism atthe-upper ends of the bars 20 for supporting and holding a box-inlocked-con.- ydition until the arrival of the car, when the box isautomatically released eand picked up The mechanism supported --by bythe car. the parallel. verticalbars 2'0--consists of a horizontal bar22, secured to the upper :end of each bar A-and extendin parallel withthe rails 1, a lever23, .pivote atone 'end to each bar 22yand having itsother-fend forked,

as at 24, the fork extendin .in a vertical direetion, and a toggle vloc'ng device sup ported by each vertical bar 20 yand operaytivelyeonnected to the adjacent forked lever 2 3', so lasto operate inunison therewith. The

levers 23 are located so that the forks -24` vstracfldle rollers 25,mounted on the rods 9,..

said levers l having their upper ends curved,

toward each other, so that when in normal. position the upper ends-ofthe levers 30 vloch l.over the rollers 25, as

shown in Fig.y 12.

Two links 31 are pivotedat their' lower 'ends arts on the. bolt 27, soas to be adjacentto t -e levers 23,.

springs 32, which are secured at one end to rollers 4by` pins onthe'horizontal bars 22 and at .their opposite ends by pins projectingfrom the .levers 23. (See Fig. 16.) The front end of the slot 7 of thecar is closed by a dog 33, which is pivoted by ascrew to the u. perportion 5 of the side frame membelyfan the rear `end by a d'olg 34,which is .pivotedby a screw at; about rtsi-middle to 'the rearterrd of.the ,lower .ortion 6 .fof the sifdcirame member. .(See vlgigs. y1, 3,and 15.) -llhese r`dogs fare located so that the rearend ofthe-diag..-3131and the front end of the dog 34 contact withthe .rollers.1-0 von the .i'irstlalmdflast .boxes '.(See Fig. 1.) Theadogs aremaintained-inl locking position lby springs 35. .A roller13G-.eisenpported at the rear 'end ofthe-'dog fvand said roller isadapted to travel on the Ibeveled. top surface ofv a block 37, which issecurdtozthe bar 22., and so 'rock thedo on its-pivotingscrew to freethe rear-endo theslo't 7. Ev The l.rear end of the. lower pontionYfcliraach side frame `member is vcut .away jat vits @bottom -edgeg'sothat the rear end of the .portion-6 narrower than the remainder'. f ofthis will be explained vifa'rtlri'er. on. rv-:Atera box has been removedfrom the carsat astation the remaining boxes are: shifted rearwardl'y,so as to providecroorn iatth'efrofnt of the car -to pick up thenext boxolnftlre,

route. This is .done automatically 'by mechanism located at the frontotthe car :and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, (and. 20:- 4A slottedplate 335s slidablysecnired ito vthe iront end `of the lower. portion 6of eachlside -frame member, and saidplate carries af-dnn 39 fnearits-frontend, said 'dog 'beingpifviote to -thepl'ate b y a screw.rtSeeFig. 20.) 'The plate 38 is secured to the-side frame members by twoscrews which pass through-the:slo.ts 40 in thaiplate vRollers 41'encircle the-por- .tions eof the 4screws', within the slot, so `thatthe. platelslides `veasily back andfliorth. `(Sxee Fig. 24.) A verticallever 42 has itis-upper -end secured .to each iend 'of horizontalshaftto a transverse -braeeebar 45, `thesends of which. arepbolted to. theinner .sides of the IIO upper por-tions 5 'of-the side fnamevmember.

This lever 42 izsfslottedv at an intermediate point, and a pin 46,extending fromabout the middle of the sliding pla'te'38,carries'a'roller47, 'which rides in said slot'.

(see rig. 25.)

The' lever 42 is adapted to contactwith a .roller 48., carried by a pin49, extending in wardlyfrom lthe lower 'end vof fa `depending arm 5G,whichis'secured ea't its=u-pper end -to -eachraiL (See Fig. 3.)

1 -15 43,1.whichis journalediin'bearings 44, secured I ber of boxes, theboxes being placed so that thebox to 4be delivered at the first stationwill be the last box on'the car, that' to be deliv- -ered at the secondstation will be the second .last,'and so on, the last box to bedelivered being the first on the car. .The current is nowapplied'to therails andis conducted through the y17, metal plates 18, and wires 51, tothe m0.-

tors 13, thereby causing the axles 14 to revolve. Thelends of theseaxles are provided with wheels, which are formed as shown in Figs. 1 and9; Each wheel has two periph- .eri'es or treads -52 and 53 of differentdiameters, the tread 53. being approximately twice the diameter of thetread 52. A flange 54 is formed integral with each wheel, said flangesserving to maintain the wheels on the rails. The wheels are insulatedfrom the axles by a core of insulating material to preventshortcircuiting through the axles. When the car. is traveling betweenstations, the larger treads 5 3 of the wheels ride the rails 1, causing.the

car to travel at a comparatively high rate of speed.V As the car nears astation, however,

the AWheels strike a section'of the rail which differs from the mainline. the railhas a raisedv portion 3, the ends of which taper down tomeet the main line on either sideof the station. As the car'travelstoward the station the smaller .treads 5 2 of 'the wheels run upon theraised portions 3 of.

thereby raising the treads of larger the-rails, y

from the track and reducing the diameter;

speed of the car,` owing to the smaller diamef ter of tlrewheels whichnow support the c'ar. By this means the speed of the car isautomatically reduced without reducing or changing the speed of themotors. When the car reaches the first station, the bottom edge of thecurved forwardend 12 of the lower porf with the roller 29 ori c tion I6of each side frame member contacts the bolt 27 of the boxsupportingmechanism and as the car advances moves the roller and bolt downwardfrom the position shown in Fig. 12 to the position shown in Fig. `13.This carries the lforked end of the 'lever 23 downward and also opensthe toggle locking-levers 30, as shown from the rails and a plurality ofboxes having in said Fig. 13, while at the same time the dog the slot 7of the car. (SeeFig.

39 on the slotted plate 38 is pressed down by the roller 8 on the rod 9,extending from the box 10, which is. supported at the station. At thispoint the rollers 8 are just entering 13.) The continued advance of thecar forces the roller .29 still farther downward as it comes in contactwith the short diagonaly portion of the in their open position, ldo-wnby the .bottom edge of the lower portion 6 of the side frame members.

trolley-Wheels .16, trolley-armsthe last box lower ends of the dependinthe car advances the slotte plates 38, carrying the dog 39, are movedbackward,`the dogs.

This section of y station, where lower edge of the portion 6 andreleases the box from both the forked levers 123 and the togglelocking-levers 30, while at the same time the dog 39 is released andreturns to its normal position, as shownin Fig. 14;v The box is no wsupported from the ca r, the rollers Shaving entered the slots 7. (SeeFig. 14.) While the car advances the forked lever 23 and the togglelocking-levers aremaintained as theroller 29 is held The car passesthrough the station and when the last box on the car is vertically abovethe forked ends of the levers 23 the roller 29 is released by thecut-away portion of the rear end of tlre portion 6, and the levers 23and the toggle locking-levers resume their normal position, at the sametime straddling and locking over the rollers 25 on the rods 9 extendingfrom on 'the car. At this time the roller 36 on the dog 34 engageswiththe beveled top surface of the block 37 and rocks the do of he slot 7and permitting the box to pass therefrom. When the car has passed thestation,

39 carrying the box therewith until the ro ers Spass beneath the dogs33, when the levers 42 are released 'from the rollers 48 and return totheir normal position. The levers are returned to their positions by atorsionspring, which encircles the shaft 43. (See Figs.2 and 5.)? Thecarv now continues to the next station, where the same operation isrepeated, and so on until it reaches the central the boxes which it haspicked up are taken therefrom and the contents refmoved. z I claim as myinvention- 1. In .a device of the class described, the combination withthe rails, of a car supported from said rails and having side slots anda plurality of boxes slidably mounted in the side slots in said car. 2.In a device of the class described, the combination with the rails, of acar supported from said rails and provided with atleastone side slot anda plurality of boxes supported in said side slot.

3. In a device of the class described, the

onits point, thereby freeing the rear end the levers 42 strike therollers 48' at the arms 50, and as lOO IIO

combination with the rails of a car suspended side projections slidablysupported by said car. n

4. In a'device of the classv described, the

and at least one'box slidably supportedfin said side slots.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination Witnthe rails, ofa delivering and collecting car supported from the rails and ihavingopposite side s lots, a plurality of boxes s lidably supported in s'aidslotsand' 'ausaid car at ade'si'red point.

slidably,s'upported in said slots, and auto- .matic mechanism forcollectingone box and 'combination with rails, o f a yskeleton car 'fordelivering another box at a, desired point.v

y 7. Th'eor'nbination with' rails,Y lof an automatic. collecting anddelivering mechanism supported by said railsand a plurality of I' boxes.s idably supported'frorn .thein sides only' .by said mechanism.

8'. Theernliiril tion 'with rail s'o f an antomatic collecting anddelivering 4I'Ilechar'iis'r'n` supported by said rails, and including adri'v. ing means, and. a Supporting meses. hams, al least one side .slot,a of

boxes are supported.

9. In a 'deviceottheclass deslfibed, the combination Wilalithe. rails ofa'carsnpp'orted from vsaid' ra'il s and linclxilflir'ir tvifosidefmiiif" bers, eachl provided .vyitli afsIo't and a pliiral ity 0fboxes Supported-.ie al Qt's- L.

10. In a device of theelas'sdescribed, the

combination with thena'ils, of a'. car' supported from said rails andincluding two. cmein.- bers, each of which iscomposed of n'pper'andlower portions separatedlsniliqiently to leave' a slot and a plurality,of boxes supporte in'. s aidslots,

' 1L In a device of the c lassdeser-ibed,4 the,-

y' eombinationwith themails anda station, of a skel en c ar supported bythe'railand hav! ing si @members conneptedtogetherzat the" top only, andat least one box removably supported from the side.1 11eI nbe r S .Onlyof said car.

12..,In aldevie' ,ofthe-,class described, .the combination .withtnezrails and a station, of a car supported by the rails 1at 'least oneybox supported by'said'caijat least one` boxsn orted! b ysaid station,means for normal y ocking aboxto theca'r .tuov prevent displace: ment,andI automatic'in'eansfor movir'ig said lockingrneans ,tolree ithe boxwhen thecar is f passing the stationyvvhe'reby" one box is dropped endanotlier -picked up as' the ear passesthe. station.

13. In a devicel of the class described, the combination with therailsand a station, of a car supported 'bythe rails at least one boxsupported by said car, at least one box sup ported by said station,meansfor normally o'cking a box to the car to 'prevent displacement, andautomatic means supported from the station for moving. s aid lockingmeans to free-the box when the car is passing the staautomatic means.for moving 'said -means to free th'e slot when'the car ispassing .thestatio'mwhereby onebox is dropped 'and vbetween l and box supporte' .bythe' station, and mecl`1a n ism whereby said ,ear will4alitomati'c'all}'f ''coli' 'lect the station-box tion, 'whereby` onebox is dropped and an 14. In a device of the c ass described, thecombination With the rails and a station, of a cansupported by therails, and having' a slot in which a pluralityof boxes'are supported,

means for normallyfloekingthe .ends of' said 'other'picke'd up as thecar asses the station.

slot to prevent the displacement of a box, and I locking' another pickedup as the. carpasses the station.

1 5. In' 'a .device of the 'class described, the' station of anantomatic'collectingand d eliv'er# `ing car 'supported from 'said 'railsfand c'ol'r'iprising tviro, sid'e members connected 4to e'thfen anddeliveranth'erfbox' to saidstation..

17. Ina 'device of theclass described, the

engaging the'ftread-s'urfa'ce of 'the rails and trolley-.Wheel engaginganother 's`nrfa'c'e` of one of the rails..

18.-v In' a device ol' theclass'described, the combination Withelectrically-charged' 'rails of a car havingr axles providedWith'in's'r'ilated' supporting-Wheels engaging 'said' rails,

electric motor on an axle' and a, trolley-'Wheel also engaging therails.

19'. In a device of the class described, the combination wi thelectrically-charged ele' vated rails, of a car havingsupp'orting'fvvheels' engaging the top 'surface of the rails-and'trolley-Wheel engaging the bottom` surface ofone ofthe rails.

20. In combination, rails, a station having tomatic collecting I Pporting a box, means for locking the box to the station againstinvoluntary removal, a collecting and delivering car supported from therails and carrying at least one box and means whereby t unlock andcollect a box to said station.

23. In combination, a box locked thereto against involuntary removal, acar supported from the rails, and means whereb unlock and col ect. thebox from said station. 24. In combination, rails, a station,an'auanddelivering car suported from the rails, means whereby the car willautomatically slow downwhen approaching the stati on and means forlocking the box to said station against involuntaryremoval.

box from and deliver a 25. In combination, rails, a station, an au-vtomatic collecting and delivering car supported from the rails,

I will automatically slow down when approachin the .station .and collecta box from and de iver a box to said station, and a toggle locking'meansfor locking the box tov said station againstinvoluntar removal.l

26. In combination, e ectrically-charged elevated rails, one at least oiwhich is grooved on its under surface, astation, slow-speed iianges onthose portions of the rails in proximity to the station, and anautomatic colecting and delivering car suspended from the rails andhaving wheelsengaging the rails, reduced rollers engaging the slow-speedflanges, an electric driving-motor and a ltrolley-wheel engaging inthe'groove.

27. In an elevated transporting system, elevated rails, a plurality ofstations at suita'ble distances each` having abox normally lockedthereto and an automatic collecting and delivering car carrying boxesequal in number to the stations and normally locked in position againstinvoluntary displacement,

and means for releasing the box'at a station and the boxes su ported bythe car to permit the'car to pic r up the box` at the station and todeposit another box in place thereof as it passes the station.

28. In an elevated transporting system, elevated rails, a plurality ofstations at suitable distances', each having a box normally lockedthereto, a car carrying 'boxes equal in number to the stations, andautomatic means for unlocking and collecting the box from each stationand delivering another box thereto as the car passes.

2,9. In combination, rails, a car supported by said rails and having atleast one slot, at least one box supported from said slot, a station,means for closing the ends ot the slot when the -car is traveling andautomatic means for opening said slot ends at the station.

30. In combination,

el car will automatically rails, a station having Aby said rails andhaving at least one s the car Will automatically' means whereby the carmeans to permit the car to remove the box` station, a'toggle-lockingdevice and 'said side members tion, means for closing the ends of theslot when the car is traveling and automatic means for opening said slotends at the station partially'mounted on the car and partially mountedon the station. f

31. In combination, rails, a car-sup orted ot, at least one box sup'orted from said slot, a station, means for cl-losing the ends of theslot When the car is traveling comprising pivotal dogs and automaticmeans 'for opening said slot ends at the station.

32. In combination, rails, a car sup orted by said rails and least onebox sup orted from said slot, a tion, means for c osing having atleastone s ot, at

sta-

spring-tensioned dogs andA automatic means for opening said slot ends atthe station.

83. Incombination, rails, a collecting and delivering car supported fromthe rails and least one box, a station supportmeans for 'locking the boxto the from the station.

34. In combination, rails, a collectingand delivering car supported fromthe rails and carrying atleast one box, a station supporting'a box,means for locking the box to the station, and means carried by the carfor releasing said lockin means to permit the car toremove the box 35.In combination, rails, a .collecting and delivering car supported fromtherails and carryingat least one box and a station including twoparallel vertical bars and mechanism connected to said bars forsupporting a box in position to be picked up by the car.

36'. In combination, rails, a collecting and delivering car supportedJfrom the rails, and

'carrying at least one box, a station` supporting a box, means forlocking the box to the means for releasing said locking means to permitthe car to remove the box from the station.

37. A- skeleton and delivering carlcomprising two side members connectedtogether only at the top thereby leavin an opening om the station.

by said rals and having atleast oneslot, at 65. I least-one boxsupported from said slot,'a stathe ends of the slot when the car istraveling comprising pivotal extendinglongitudinally throng out betweeny and interrupted only by the top connections between said side membersand a plurality of boxes supported in said opening by side projectionsengaging said side members.

38. A skeleton and delivering car comprising two side members connectedtogether only at the top thereby leaving an opening extendinglongitudinally throughout between said side members and interrupted onlyby the top connections between said side memrails, a car supported lbers, said side members having slots, and a plurality of boXes supportedin said openings the to y side projections engaging in the slots in bvsaid side members, said opening by side projections provided 39. Askeletonand delivering oar oomprisl with rollers engaging said sidemembers. y 5 n r two side members connected together WILLIAMC. CARR.

orilyat the top thereby leaving an opening i extendinglongitudinallythroughout between said side members and interrupted only by y pconnections .between said nsi'deflraem- Witnesses K L. M. SANGS'BER,GEO. A. NEUBAUER.

ers and a plurality of boxes supported in 1o I

